Key case



March 3, 1936;

ulnnnx P. A. GARDNER, JR 2,032,408

KEY CASE Filed Feb. 18, 1955 Patented Mar. 3, l1936 lUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KEY CASE Prince Albert Gardner, Jr., University City, Mo. Application February 18, 1935, Serial No. 7,041

' 1 claim. (o1. 15m-4o) This invention relates to key cases. An object of the invention is to provide an improved foldable key case having supports for keys in connection with the wall of one side portion thereof and having fasteners along the side edges of the two portions of the key case for holding the key case closed when all of the keys are contained therein, and also having fasteners for holding the key case closed when any key is extended from the key case.

Other objects will be readilyapparent from the following description, reference being made to the annexed drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a. perspective view of my improved key case showing the fasteners along the top and the front thereof. v.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the rear of the key case and the side opposite from that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view of the .key case open.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the key case having the outer fasteners unattached and a key extending from the key case, the key case being held closed bythe auxiliary fasteners.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View of the key case approximately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

My improved key case comprises a side wall I connected with a cooperating side wall 2 by a foldable hinge portion 3.

A flexible wall 4 is attached to the upper and front edges of the wall I and'is extended downwardly into a notch 5 at the rear of the key case formed by removing the upper portion of the hinge 3. A cooperating wall 5 is attached to the upper and front edges of the wall 2 and cooperates with the wall 4 and with the walls I and 2 to form a case in which the keys are confined. A longitudinal series of fasteners 1 are in connection with the Wall 4 and are engageable with and disengageable from a cooperating longitudinal series of fasteners 8 in connection with the wall 46. These fasteners may be engaged and disengaged by operation of a slide 8 having in connection therewith a pivoted handle III, whereby said slide may be easily operated. 'Ihe fasteners 1 and 8 are engaged by operation of the slide 9 from the notch 5 along the upper and front edges of the key case and are disengaged by a return movement of the slide 9 to the notch B.

A support Il is attached to the inner side of the wall 2 and has pivoted thereto a series of hooks I2, each of which is adapted to support a key I3.

It is necessary to release the fasteners 1 and 8 from each other in order to extend any key from the key case. My invention comprises means for holding the key case closed even though the fasteners 1 and 8 are disengaged from each other and the key I3 is extended from the key case, as shown in Fig. 4. Said means comprises a fastener or holding element I4 attached to the Wall I inwardly from the wall 4 and a cooperating element I5 attached to the wall 2 for engagement with and disengagement from the fastener ele- Ament I4. By this improved construction, the key case can be held closed even though the fasteners 1 and 8 are disengaged. When the key case is held closed in this manner, it is impossible for any of the keys confined therein to protrude from the key case and itis also impossible for the key case to open accidentally.

I do not restrict myself to any specific dimensions or proportions nor to the particular type of fasteners shown, but what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A key casecomprising two pivotally connected walls foldable toward each other to form a key case having an upper end, devices attached to the inner surface of one of said walls near the upper end thereof for supporting keys, longitudinal series of fasteners attached to the upper ends and free edges of said wall for holding the key case closed when all the keys are confined in the case and preventing extension of any of the keys from the case when said fasteners are engaged, a device movable along the upper ends and downwardly along the edges of said walls to engage said fasteners and movable upwardly along the edges and Alaterally across the upper ends of said walls to disengage said fasteners, and additional fasteners within the case for holding the keycase closed when all of lsaid first named fasteners are disengaged and when any key is extended from the case between them.

PRINCE ALBERT GARDNER. JR. 

